After the initial burst of publicity regarding a California man’s intent to take U.S. Justice David Souter’s Weare home through eminent domain following the Supreme Court’s decision to allow communities to take land by force for economic benefits, we thought the hoopla would die down.

But no, not only is the Lost Liberty Hotel a possibility, but now Weare resident Gary Hopper has joined those intent on teaching Souter a lesson. Knowing the rules a bit better than some outsider, he quickly gathered 25 signatures on a petition to take the land and create a park dedicated to Constitutional principals.

Much as we enjoy the antics and would appreciate the irony of Souter’s decision having a direct effect on his own property, both efforts are basically publicity stunts that will not change the court decision and will cause the town of Weare and its selectmen to spend time and money defending Souter’s right to quiet enjoyment of his land. The town does not need or want a hotel or park. There is no logical argument for the taking of his home for economic betterment or any other reason.

If it comes down to a vote, which looks likely given Hopper’s petition, we hope the people of Weare will see through the publicity stunt and say no. The Weare selectmen have already said they don’t take the hotel movement seriously. We support them on this stance, and hope the general population of Weare does, too.

Editorials published by Neighborhood News Inc. are written by an editorial board. The board is composed of Publisher and President Amy J. Vellucci, Executive Editor Ginger Kozlowski and Managing Editor Christine Heiser.

To the Editor:
I would like to respond to the issues brought up in court regarding the sale of the manufactured housing parks Medford Farms and the Village of Glen Falls.

It was the contention that Mrs. Kilmartin wants to leave her legacy to “100” of her dear friends who live in the park whose rents are at a particularly low rate due to inducements given in the early ’80s to move into the park.

I don’t believe the number stands anywhere near 100.

Of the residents who are at a much lower rent, some may be able to pay a higher rent; and, if not, we can create a type of grant for those whose quality of life would be affected.

Keeping the rent at an affordable rate, a resident can become a co-op member with its fee which can be paid on a monthly basis. We have already helped members to get rebates on taxes.

There are numerous well-educated residents who are more than capable in running the parks in an orderly and financially successful fashion.

Yes, the land will belong to the co-op, but by being a member of the co-op, we will at least have more say in the running of the park and this may allow us to have the ability to refinance through a bank or even get reverse mortgages.

I implore the current owner to sell to the co-op.

Please keep in mind that the board of directors is not the co-op. We the residents are. Please do not allow any personal issues you may have with some of the board members to cloud your decision, as they will not always be in office.
Mandy L. Deshaies
Goffstown

To the Editor:
Thank you so much for publishing my letter regarding my People to People trip to Europe. I received a good response to the letter and wanted to let you know I appreciated that you published it. I had so much fun.

On the trip, we started in Rome, where we visited the Coliseum, Pantheon and Vatican City. We also went to an alabaster factory. We watched them make vases out of stone. After Rome, we went to Pisa and saw the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Our next stop was Monaco, where we got a tour of a very interesting perfume factory. Next we ventured to our home stay family. I stayed with a very nice family whose daughter spoke fluent English. On the first day there we went to a giant cave that has been there for more than 1,000 years. The second night we had a barbecue and saw some fireworks in honor of Bastille Day.

We set off for Paris next and went to the Eiffel Tower and a bunch of cool restaurants. Next we went to the French Riviera. I actually put my feet in the Mediterranean Sea.

After France we went to London. On the London Eye we saw all of London from a Ferris wheel. Next we saw the Tower of London and heard all of the gruesome stories about it.

In the photo of our whole group in London, I’m in the front row on the ground with the blue shorts. Again, thank you so much to everyone who helped me with the cost of my trip.
Natalie Sroda
Goffstown

To the Editor:
School will be starting soon. Are you ready? Are your kids ready?

Another kind of “school” will be starting soon – foster parent training.

Are you ready to join with others who are looking into foster parenting? Now is the time to get ready to join the class.

Most foster parent training classes begin in September, some a little later.

It is a good way to find out if fostering is right for your family. It’s free and there’s no obligation.

Find out how you can give something back to your community by becoming a foster parent. Call your local Concord DCYF foster care worker at (800) 322-9191.
Jan Feuer
Intake Specialist
New Hampshire Foster and Adoptive Parent Association
Concord

To the Editor:
The Lake Horace Landowners Corp. (LHLOC), in conjunction with Weare Parks and Recreation, hosted a Weed Watcher Class at Chase Park recently.

Amy Smagula, from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, gave a short lesson on aquatic plants and animals. She pointed out how important the monitoring of the Chase Park Boat Ramp is as “a first line of defense in trying to stop the spread of ‘exotic’ evasive plants and animals.”

It is difficult to distinguish between native or exotic milfoil. Other plants to watch – and watch out for – are hydrilla, fanwort, Brazilian elodea and zebra mussels. Even purple loosestrife, while it gives great color, will push out native plants and animals living in moist and wet places.

Currently, Lake Horace is free of all invasive exotic plants and animals. But the LHLOC and Weare Parks and Recreation stress the need for constant vigilance.

Weare’s neighboring town upstream, Deering, does an outstanding job of monitoring their lake. Without that town’s efforts, Weare would be at an even greater risk.

While taking a ride around the lake, Amy identified all native “good” plant species.

Thanks go to Ms. Amy Smagula, and to the entire Chase Park Staff. Kathy Robichaud, Bob Thomas, Greg Franciscovich, Jim Thomas, Tiffany Currier, Mike Eldridge and Justin Robichaud were present. Thanks to Jack Paquette for the use of his party boat.

Lake Horace is a wonderful place for swimming, fishing and boating. Please come enjoy and respect this precious resource.

For more information on aquatic plants and animals, both native “good” and exotic “bad” plants, visit state.nh.us/wmb/exoticspecies or e-mail info@nhlakes.org. If you would like to become a volunteer Weare Weed Watcher and help monitor Lake Horace or any water body in town, call me at 529-7484 or e-mail: ere1farm@aol.com.
Gene Propper,
president, Lake Horace
Landowners Corporation

To the Editor:
The members of the Weare Piecemakers Quilt Guild are having a doll “Round Robin.” The dolls are all placed individually in a paper bag along with a “diary.”

Each month they are exchanged with members until they are finished. No one knows what their doll will look like until they are returned to their owners in December.

This is a fun project, and everyone participates. We just can’t wait to see what they end up looking like. We can’t imagine how anyone is going to dress the moose. That’s a challenge.

If you have any questions about the guild, please e-mail me at Goffstown8@aol.com.

Don’t forget to watch channel 16 for our monthly quilt show.

I would like to thank everyone who took the time to get in touch last month. It was great to receive the e-mails, and many of you had some good suggestions for a show. Thanks, again.
Marlene Latulippe
Goffstown